The Carolina Panthers held a training camp practice in heavy rain on Tuesday, with head coach Dave Canales expressing a positive outlook about the challenging weather. “What a gift,” Canales said at his press conference after the session. The team practiced for nearly two hours and is preparing for another day of wet conditions as they host the Cleveland Browns for a joint practice.
Canales emphasized that practicing in poor weather could benefit the team if similar conditions occur during the season. “I mean, just to get the experience of it, that could happen to us early in the season here, with just some of the storms that have been rolling through,” he said. He noted that passing was affected by the rain, leading to missed catches and lost interception opportunities.
Despite most staff members wearing full rain gear, Canales maintained his usual attire—a long-sleeved hooded T-shirt and cap—demonstrating his belief in consistency regardless of circumstances. He praised both the players’ energy and the grounds crew’s work maintaining playable grass fields: “The field was great. So the turf itself, there wasn’t a lot of slipping, our grounds crew has done an amazing job, just making sure that it’s draining properly and all that.”
Canales also discussed plans for Wednesday’s joint practice with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Both coaches agreed on keeping practices physical but controlled to avoid altercations. “We’ll have an opportunity for some of our leadership on both sides to talk to each other about the rules of engagement and what we’re expecting,” Canales said. “We’re expecting the physicality of it. We don’t want people laying out and making wrap tackles; it’s very similar to what we did at Fan Fest.”
Panthers center Austin Corbett highlighted player-to-player communication as key to ensuring productive sessions without unnecessary conflict: “Ultimately, it’s just being smart; we’re here to work against other opponents… So, trying to keep it about the ball, just make it clean, crisp, and ultimately the game’s on Friday, and that’s what we’re trying to get to.”
Defensive end Derrick Brown participated extensively but may be held out of Wednesday’s session due to an oblique issue rather than last year’s knee injury. Canales explained: “I don’t know about getting him out there when he’s going to start throwing people around and really torquing that.”
Canales commended defensive leaders like Brown, A’Shawn Robinson, and Jaycee Horn for rallying teammates during practice. Of Robinson specifically he said: “I would say of those three, A’Shawn is the most vocal leader that I think we have on the defensive side… So I think he knows what it feels like and what it takes to play really good defensive football…”
Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan made an impression off-the-field by choosing gospel music when asked by veteran cornerback Mike Jackson—and earning Jackson’s approval: “TMac is smart,” Jackson acknowledged. “He got up and sang gospel. You can’t boo God.”
On injuries, outside linebacker DJ Johnson returned from a hip issue while Hunter Renfrow (hamstring), Nic Scourton (hamstring), and Chandler Zavala (knee) remained sidelined. Canales indicated decisions regarding their participation later in the week would depend on further assessment.
